Gunny Was a Remarkable Man

 It is with sadness that I report the passing of Roger "Gunny" Roll.  It is hard to describe Gunny in just words, but here are a few items I find interesting...

• He was Coach Groves' best friend for many years.  Years that were difficult for him.
• He would take 10 mile runs with the team in my early years.  Teams that were in the top-4 in the Division I NCAA XC. I probably couldn't do that 1 year after graduation!
  
• He had more than 1 Purple Heart from Vietnam.  I think the number was three, but really "just 1" would garner my greatest respect.
• He taught me many things in those days, sometimes in words, and sometimes by just watching how he interacted with the world around him.
• I never heard him say a negative thing about anyone.  
• He was a long-time Official for NCAA meets in both XC and Track and Field.

Never had an interaction with him that wasn't positive.  RIP  (Thanks to Mark Heckel for the photo and the word on the news.)

 We have lost all 3 of these giants of PSU Track Alumni (Golfers) in the last several years.

I Was Wrong When I Said That Hazing Never Happened In PSU Track And XC!

I was always pleased that there was never hazing while I was a member of the PSU Track and XC family.  There certainly was back in 1968, though.  The shorts that the Freshman team had to endure that year for the team photo definitely qualify...

Greg Fredericks will have to chime in here, as the captions were cut off, and all I recognize is him, Coach Groves and Coach Dolan...

Memory Lane: Part 1

Thanks to our Course Marshall, we have pics of every Coach Groves' Cross Country team through the ages.  And since I have been posting sparsely this year, it seems that they would make an easy post that everyone will enjoy.

So here's Coach Groves' very first Cross Country team in 1968!

My notes: (please add your own!)

• Great benefactor and York County native Dick Geiger looking good!
• Coach Groves looking youthful, but serious.
• Steve Gentry with a mischevious grin!
• Long-time Lock Haven Coach Jim Dolan as Assistant Coach (Freshman Coach)
• Assistant Coach Warren Coleman (PSU's first ever African American Coach!) 
• I didn't see group member Phil Peterson at first!!  Sorry about that.

A Nice Poem About Coach Groves

Poems from Life with Juniper Village is a project developed in partnership between the Pennsylvania Center for the Book and Juniper Village Senior Living at Brookline to share and celebrate the lives of Juniper residents with original, individualized poems presented by local poets.

And you thought the only poem involving Coach Groves would be a limerick!

Thanks to our Course Marshall, here is the first peek at this year's entry for Coach Groves written by Mary Rohrer Dann.  She seems to have gotten things right.

Alumnus Of The Year

Our soon-to-be regular poster and current Blog Laureate Lawrence Mangan wrote this post on our Facebook Page, so I am reposting it here so everyone can see it. 

Person of the Year.

As another year draws to a close and we celebrate the very worthy athletic accomplishments of current and former Nittany Lions, I think it's important to recognize a very significant off-the-field/track performance. Ben Franklin said that nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. But before this lovely thing called life slips from our grasp, some of us transition in varied ways. Our Coach is in such a transition, and one person from our ranks is honorably resolute in being his able guide. Despite the fact that he would deflect and be uncomfortable with such attention or any compliment, I nominate Greg Fredericks as our Person of the Year. If we had such an award, Greg would have won it for at least the past decade, maybe even as long as his 5K and 10K records have stood the test of time (46 years in case you just landed on this planet), and will get my nod for as long as he keeps hanging around being an all together fine human being.

David Foster Baskwill I apologize yet again for failing to post this on the Glob..Golb...Blog. It will be my New Years resolution to acquire the requisite skill set! For the rest of us, be sure to pay special attention to that older person in your community who may not have such a special guide. Maybe you could try to be like Greg.

The Rusty Boot Is In Good Hands

The "Rusty Boot" is our newest annual award given at the Alumni Reunion.  It is meant to represent the very best in all Nittany Lions.  Although the criteria are vague (almost ephemeral!) at this point, the first two recipients are certainly among the very best Nittany Lions ever.

Last year, the award went to Coach Groves himself.  And the boot was placed prominently at Coach's residence in State College for all visitors to peruse.

This year the award went to Coach Gary Schwartz, long-time Men's Assistant Coach and former Head Coach of the women's team.  Even though he went on to coach elsewhere, there is still a tinge of blue in his blood.  It was wonderful having him at all the reunion events this year!

And since Coach Groves was somewhat upset that the boot was taken from his residence for the presentation, Coach Schwartz gallantly returned it to Coach Groves' residence immediately following the presentation!  Anyone can see the bronzed javelin boot of Assistant Coach Bill Whittaker when they visit Coach Groves.

Coach Gary Schwartz and the Rusty Boot.

No Football, No Problem

Took the absence of a football game in State College to visit Daughter the Elder AND Coach Groves. My day's workout is most likely the walk Greg Fredericks and I took with him. It was fun hearing Coach tell me about all the wrong moves I was making along our way. Took me back to 1977 in my mind. And I will admit I was sweating a little too!

Included are pics of Coach, the Rusty Boot on prominent display,  and the sign that Gunny Roll hit in his accident before the first XC meet of the season.

Coach Groves In A Coach Groves Shirt!

We have always been cognizant of the perils of having Coach Groves' name engraved in the winners of his own Coach Groves Golf Tourney Cup.  Will it unleash a tear in the space/time continuum?  Will it end in a Black Hole?  Luckily in the days when he did golf with us, he happened to be in my foursome, thus almost guaranteeing it wouldn't come up!

But with this recent pic from Coach's chauffeur, we may have to rethink the whole concept?

Here's Coach Groves wearing a Coach Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational T-Shirt!

Naughty Or Nice? Only Coach And Santa Know For Sure

Hello everyone in the Penn State Track and Field Alumni Group Universe!


Attached is a picture of Coach Groves and Santa.  Santa stopped to see him a few days back; Santa wanted to get some inside information from Coach as to which of Coach's boys have been naughty or nice.  (You girls all got a pass from Coach this year!) You can tell by the grin on Coach's face that some of the boys have a reason to be worried this year.

Photo by Greg Fredericks.

Coach Groves Wishes Us All Merry Christmas

At least there is somebody willing to buck the trend and actually say "Merry Christmas"!  But then Coach was never quite politically correct. Christmas is never exclusionary in any way.  Everyone is invited, just as our little Group is open to everyone.  Those not celebrating the holiday (or our Group) are always still in our thoughts.  Thanks go to Greg Fredericks who brings us this picture and does so much more for Coach than is imaginable every day.  The best of the Season to all!

Ho, ho, ho. And 12 X 400 in 68-70...

I'm Going To Call Him "Coach" From Now On

The title "Coach" is one that deserves much more respect in our current world.  But not from me.   I already hold Coach Groves in as high a position as anyone except my parents and grandparents when the guidance of my life is concerned.

Coach Groves being interviewed by yours truly.

No one had as much impact on my personal journey through life other than my family members. He often taught me positive values and rarely taught me what negative values can mean.  Both are very valuable lessons which don't come about easily if no one is there to guide you.  As a lowly walk-on, Coach took as much time with me as others who were recruited.  He met with me individually many times and instilled both praise (occasionally) and criticism (often) of what I was doing.  This rarely had anything at all to do with my running.

Two years ago he summed it up by saying, "Athletics (track and field) is for education and recreation, nothing else. Winning is important only in that you learn more." This was from an 82 year-old coach emeritus who had dedicated his entire working life to track and field coaching.  Powerful stuff really.

And his tradition is being continued at Penn State right now by another coach.

Coach John Gondak.

I first met Coach John Gondak in the meeting room of the Hampton Inn at our Friday night Reunion prior to one of the earlier Coach Groves weekends.  He had just been hired as the distance assistant coach by Coach Sullivan.  He actually took the time to meet with us haggard rabble and even golfed with us.  (He is a very good golfer BTW!) Our admiration began then.

In the intervening years, his blood has gradually turned blue and now he is a full-fledged Nittany Lion.  I quietly lobbied for him when the head coaching job opened up, and I couldn't be happier to see what he is doing for the program.  Integrity, excellence and yes, education, are at the core of his tutelage. May it continue for many more years.I'm going to call him "Coach" from now on, even if he blushes as I do it!

Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year

"Bite Me, Clark" And Other Coach Groves Videos To Spur Viewership

Here's a sampling of Coach Groves videos from the past years some of you may enjoy.

First, here's another time Coach showed me the line on a putt.  I just missed the 40-footer with his advice...

"Bite me, Clark..."

And here's his 80th Birthday Celebration at our Reunion...



And here is his address at our 2012 Reunion...

"In, You Son of a B..."

It's been a while since we had a Coach Groves post.  And because I have been reposting old posts from years ago, I figured I might as well post one with Coach Groves WHILE tooting my own horn.

Coach golfed with us a few years following his retirement from coaching.  Some years he golfed 2 holes with each foursome. Some years he just dispensed beverages from a cart. I was lucky enough to golf with him and Nick K. and Paul Mundy in 2009.  For some reason Nick filmed this putt.  I have no other video of any other putts that year.  And somehow, Coach almost sank the putt, showing me the exact line I needed to take.

This Steeplechaser Started Early, And This Middle Distance Star Is Still Working Out!

Apparently, starting early helps!  I stole this pic from Bridget Franek's FB.  She's running in a street mile in Pittsburgh this weekend. I never started until I was 15... (bangs head on desk...)

And here's a pic I took of Coach Groves the last time we talked!

A Visit With Coach

Greg Fredericks arranged a visit with Coach Groves for early arrivals to the Alumni Weekend.  I joined Greg, Hugh Hamill and his lovely wife Yunhee and visited Coach at his residence.  It was a good time.  All photos by Yunhee Hamill.

The weights are 5X what our President uses!

He just told a joke!

I then headed over to the Blue Course for PRACTICE.  Bob Gabel has moved into position to become and "A"golfer in our group.  Clark Haley is already rounding into good shape in all phases of his game for a FIFTH appearance on The Cup.  As for me, the stats are as usual.  14% adequate shots, 7% good shots and 79% atrocious shots.  Pray I'm not in your foursome.

The Greatest Track Coach In The World

Back at his retirement dinner in 2006, Coach Groves gave his typical short speech ("If it takes longer than a paragraph, you don't have anything to say anyway.") in which he declared that he was...
 

"... for a brief time, I'm the greatest Track Coach in the world."

This was actually a  paraphrase of Jesse Owens in a speech that Coach attended.  In it, Jesse alluded to the fact that "ACCORDING to all the nice things said about him that day,he was the world's best track athlete".  

And here's the interview of The Coach at a previous Alumni Reunion's Alumni "Run"

Honoring Two Great Coaches

First up is a celebration of Coach Groves' long string of Penn Relays ending this year.  Rather than dwell on the negative, Greg Fredericks has arranged a celebration at Coach's residence in State College to celebrate all the Carnivals he has attended.  This will be the first that Coach Groves has missed in about 70 years.  Coach started attending as a Grade Schooler in a 8 x 55 yard relay.  He ran there in high school and college, even running the same leg of a 4 x 880yd. against my father-in-law.  He also coached his Army team, his William and Mary team and, of course, the Nittany Lions.  Following that he was an honored trackside Official until last year. Not many people have as much history of their own at the Penn Relays.

Help Greg honor Coach on his birthday:

Penn Relays will be here soon and we all know what that means... Coach Groves birthday!

Coach's birthday is Friday April 24th and he will be 85.  We are planning a little celebration at his residence.  It would be really nice if you could drop him a card or give him a call.  He is a bit disappointed he will not make it to the relays so we can help cheer him up.  I believe he has missed Penn Relays only once in the past 70 years!

His address is:
Mr Harry Groves
c/o Juniper Village
610 West Whitehall Road
Room #132
State College, PA 16801

We are...
Thank you all.

greg

 The second way to honor Coach is to attend our 14th Annual Reunion and Golf Tournament.  Now is the time to get your check in the mail to Clark Haley.  All the details are in this post from 2 months ago!

And in a happy coincidence (?), the Memorial Service for ex PSU Cross Country captain and long-time State College Coach Jackson Horner will occur during our reunion weekend.  Many PSU Alums are also State College High Alums and will get a chance to honor Coach Horner and still attend all our festivities!

A service of remembrance for Coach Jackson Horner has been set.

Jackson Horner memorial service & luncheon
Saturday May 16, 2015
11:00am
Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA

http://www.glcpa.org/

A Quick Post On The Coaches Reception and Sykes/Sabock Challenge

 

Track Alumni Golfer Owen Dawson paces the One Mile with a splendid 1200M (sorta 1200!) while wearing his Alumni Singlet.  Always a highlight in my book!

After Owen's excellent 1200M (sorta 1200!), future PSU Track and Field Alumni Golfer Robby Creese took over and won the mile with this year's #1 NCAA unconverted Mile of 3:57.86.

 Ex-Freshman Roommates Tom Rapp and Larry Mangan reunite at the Ashenfelter Complex.  Tom's wife Mary Rawe was also an All-American and 1977 Freshman classmate of all of us.

Alumni Golfer, past foursome teammate and William and Mary head coach Steve Walsh actually got me to pose for a very rare pic of myself.  I promised him I would post it on the blog with it all, despite my overall desire for anonymity. During the entire day, I noticed  that I was the shortest person in every room I was in.

Coach John Gondak arranged the whole affair to bring as many Alumni together as possible and to honor past coaches.  Coach Teri Jordan thanked the crowd of over 100 with a brief speech.

Coach Groves gave an even briefer speech, but was mobbed all night by everyone there.  Just as it should be.

In the background just to the right of Coach is Ken Brinker, Alumni Golfer extraordinaire!  It was announced that Ken recently donated $100,000 to the PSU Track Program.  Our Chief Morale and Laundry Officer Larry Mangan is currently organizing the effort to match Ken's magnanimity.  More of that is to come.

 Penn State's Indoor 3000M Record Holder Sam Masters and Fiance came up with the best excuse for missing this year's Golf Tourney.  They are getting married that day in Missouri.  Officially, that will be the only excuse us Idiot Officers will now allow!

 Greg Fredericks received his Alumni T-Shirt from Le faucon d'orange Mark Hawkins.  He was gifted the item by us Idiot Officers for the extraordinary efforts he has made for Coach Groves in the past year.

Greg models the Special Edition Alumni T-Shirt made for Roger "Gunny" Roll for his above-and-beyond efforts for Coach Groves in the past year. 

Addendum:

Artist's conception

 On the late-night drive home, I ran over a skunk near Seven Mountains and was later almost hit head-on by a high-speed car driving the wrong way on Route 83 north of York. I really wish I could have stayed over night in State College. Two trips through the car wash has not dissipated the smell and I still have a tremor thinking about the almost crash.

Head's Up For The Coach's Reception! And Another PSU Track Alumni Golfer At XC Nationals

I have been remiss in promoting the Coach's Reception for Coach Teri Jordan and Coach Harry Groves that will occur following the Sykes-Sabock Challenge on Saturday February 7th at 6:30PM to 8:30PM.  This will be an Italian buffet with an open bar.  Right down any Alumni Golfers alley!


Please RSVP by emailing Will Rottler back at wdr13@psu.edu with the number that will be attending. 

Co-blogger Matt Groves, Coach Jordan, Coach Groves, and Dan Jordan.

 After finally coming across the photo of John Evans at the recent USATF XC Club Nationals, another PSU Track Alumni Golfer has emerged!  Apparently there was a mix-up after the race which made the Masters results unavailable for awhile, and I missed people.  Michael Gross also laced them up at the race for the Greater Philadelphia Track Club.  While this earned him praise from me and a little envy, he falls short on a Platinum Membership only because he didn't have an Alumni Singlet!  That means he will continue to pay the same dues he always has for membership in the group ($0 annually) in perpetuity.

Michael Gross in another Michael Scott photo!

  

If you know of others, please alert us!

Coach Groves Gets Back On His Feet

It's only a matter of time until my a$$ is kicked!

Coach Whittaker, last year's foursome captain of the oldest group to ever golf in the Coach Groves Golf Tourney, paid Coach Groves a visit and brings us good news.

Coach Groves has adjusted well to his new surroundings.  He is feeling much better.  He is stronger and eating better following his injuries and illnesses.  Let's hope you never find out how hard that is!   Although Bill reports he is not yet chasing nurses.  He relates that Coach was very pleased with the giant get well card from the team I reported on earlier.  And despite the image you may have of him, he relishes the attention we bestow on him at our annual reunion and golf tourney.  He also delights in visits from the universe of PSU track and field and cross country.  Consider a visit to Coach.  It will cheer you and him up, I'm sure.

Coach Bill Whittaker and Coach Groves in "Suburban" State College.